Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 464 Combine Vertical and Horizontal ([-])

A burst of hearty laughter came from Xiang Zhuang's study, and Huben Wei, who was guarding outside, looked in through the open window, just in time to see the king of Chu and the military advisor Bai Lixian sitting opposite each other, talking happily.

Bai Lixian flipped through the memorial and said, "There are only so many in two days, and you still invite them to become the King of Wei?"

"Who said no? It seems that some people are really anxious. They want to remind the widow by inviting the king of Wei." Xiang Zhuang smiled and shook his head, and said, "However, the widow should really seriously consider the matter of rewarding heroes. , Seeing that many old ministers are getting older, we can't let them go to see the former king with regrets, right?"

Bai Lixian said happily: "Your Majesty's concern is very serious. Now that Liu Bang and Han Xin are dead, and Qi and Han have been severely injured, our great Chu has taken shape. It is true that we should award meritorious ministers. If meritorious officials are not rewarded If you don’t have a title, it’s not good for the morale of the army.”

Xiang Zhuang said: "Ziliang, the widow came to you today, just to discuss with you about rewards."

Bai Lixian was suffocated when he heard the words, and said a little unnaturally: "Your Majesty, it seems that Ling Yin, Taiwei, Yinxianghou, Shuxianghou, Yixianghou, Louxianghou and other important officials should be called to discuss the matter of awarding the reward. ,I am afraid……"

Xiang Zhuang waved his hand to stop Bai Lixian, but he was not without emotion. Speaking of which, the Baili family is extremely honorable. Baili Yishui is a princess, and Baili Xian is a military advisor, and he is highly regarded by Xiang Zhuang. Bailimao is also one of the most meritorious generals in the army, but among the many wealthy families in Ziling City, the Baili family is the most low-key.

Such wealthy families as the Heng family, Ji family, Gao family, and Pang family, from time to time there will be disturbances in which the sons of the slaves bully men and women. Although the county magistrate of Ziling is a strong county magistrate, he often came to Xiangzhuang to complain.

However, Xiang Zhuang had never heard any negative news about Baili's family.

However, what pleased Xiang Zhuang the most was that the Baili family always kept a distance from Yingzhen. Because of Xiangshu, the relationship between Baili's family and Yingzhen was very special, and Yingzhen also showed goodwill to Baili's family many times. He intended to use it as Olympic aid, but Bai Lixian did not accept the olive branch extended by Yingzhen, but deliberately alienated the relationship.

Xiang Zhuang has a clear understanding of the little tricks that Ying Zhen is doing behind the scenes. He also knows that Ying Zhen is an ambitious woman, and even more aware of her intention to revive the Great Qin Empire, but Xiang Zhuang doesn't care. He has no soldiers and no power, and his son is not a prince, what kind of atmosphere can he become?
But Xiang Zhuang admired Bai Lixian's attitude very much!

Obviously, Bailixian is a wise man who is extremely cautious and knows how to advance and retreat. It is because of Bailixian's prudence and wisdom that Xiang Zhuang trusts him even more, and is willing to discuss with him about big and small matters. The minister, Xiang Zhuang wanted to find someone to discuss with, and the first minister he thought of was Bai Lixian.

Xiang Zhuang said: "Ziliang, you don't have to be scruples, just say what you have."

"Okay, then I will say a few words with courage." Seeing that he couldn't evade the excuse, Baili Xian had to straighten out his words, and then said, "Your Majesty, Huan Chu, Ji Bu, Yu Ziqi, Zhongli Mei, Zhou Yin Although the generals are old, their military exploits are limited, so they are enough to be named Marquis, for Gao Chu and Pang Yu, it may not be enough to just be named Marquis, but the most difficult thing to be named is the General."

Xiang Zhuang nodded silently, and Bai Lixian's words reached his heart again. Veteran generals such as Huan, Ji, Yu, and Zhou have already lost their foundation in the army, and it is easy to deal with them.

Gao Chu and Pang Yu were already the Marquis of Che, and they had outstanding military exploits. It would be difficult to convince the public just by increasing the food, even if they didn't say it, they would definitely not be convinced in their hearts, but the embarrassing thing is that the two Among the tenth-level Qin Jue, Chehou is already the highest rank, and if he goes up, he will be crowned king, but Xiang Zhuang is absolutely unwilling to be crowned king.

As a time traveler, Xiang Zhuang is well aware of the danger of having a different surname as a king.

Even the sons of the clan can't be crowned kings. Isn't the rebellion of the seven kings in the early Han Dynasty and the eight kings in the early Jin Dynasty the rebellion of the kings of the same surname?Xiang Zhuang has already made up his mind that he will never be crowned king!
Of course, this time the king of Wei is an exception, this is to cooperate with Bi Shu to sing a big show.

However, Gao Chu and Pang Yu are not the most difficult to seal, the most difficult to seal is Bi Shu. In terms of military exploits, Bi Shu who first defeated Han Xin on the Surabaya battlefield and then defeated Liu Bang on the Mianshui battlefield can be said to be unmatched. Gao Chu and Pang Yu couldn't be compared with him either. The contribution of these two battles alone might be enough to become king.

But, can Bi Shu really be crowned king?Of course not!
Not to mention Xiang Zhuang's reluctance to be crowned king, I'm afraid many of Chu's nobles and military generals are also not convinced, because Bi Shu's qualifications are too shallow.

It is not enough to confer the title of Marquis, and not enough to confer the title of King, so how should I be conferred?
Bai Lixian was very aware of Xiang Zhuang's embarrassment, so he suggested in a low voice: "Your Majesty, why don't you add another level of title between Chehou and the princes?"

"Add another level of title?" Xiang Zhuang's heart moved, "Duke?"

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Qing Pi from the same village as Ge Sheng was seriously injured in the last battle of Surabaya. Gao Chu thought about his old friendship and arranged a job for him. He became the confidant of Qu Bucai, the commander of Wumuya, and was sent to Handan to preside over the overall situation half a year ago.

Zhao Mansion's servants led Qingpi into the backyard through the back door with a lantern.

Now Qingpi’s public identity is a wealthy businessman from Huainan, who specializes in silk and cotton business, and also secretly operates salt, grain and other businesses. He has four shops in Handan City and two manors outside the city.

As soon as he passed through the middle door, Qing Pi saw that Zhao Wu was already waiting outside the study door, and immediately bowed his hands and said: "Oh, the general is too polite, too polite."

Zhao Wu said with a smile: "Mr. Qing is a distinguished guest, as it should be."

After the two chatted, Zhao Wu welcomed Qing Pi into the study.

The two sat down as guests and hosts, and Zhao Wu directly shunned the servants on the left and right, as well as the house servants outside the door.

Qing Pi took out a secret letter from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Wu, "General, this is the secret letter just sent by Ziling."

Zhao Wu hurriedly sat up on his knees, then took the secret letter from Qingpi's hands with both hands, and hurriedly read the secret letter, Zhao Wu's brows showed ecstasy. The King of Chu has promised in the letter that as long as Zhao Wu mobilizes Zhao Jun to cooperate with Wumuya to kill Han Xiang Baimo, he will be named Changshan King.

Burning the secret letter in front of Qing Pi, Zhao Wu then said: "Mr. Qing, I'm afraid it's not easy to handle the matter. In today's court meeting, that fellow Bai Xuan actually contradicted the old man everywhere. Guan Gao and Zhang Jing The guy was playing tricks again, so King Zhao didn't agree to kill Bai Mo, so I'm afraid we have to find another way to assassinate Bai Mo."

"Bai Xuan is so arrogant?" Qing Pi frowned when he heard this.

Qingpi knew very well that Bai Mo, as the prime minister of the Han Dynasty, would definitely have elite soldiers and fierce generals accompanying him to protect him when he went on an envoy to Zhao. It would be extremely difficult to assassinate him with the people of Wumuya alone, so Qingpi thought of buying Zhao In the afternoon, Zhao Guo's army was mobilized to ambush Bai Mo, but now it seems that things are not going well.

Zhao Wu sighed, and said with some helplessness: "A few months ago, the old man did not follow the Zhao Wang's order to withdraw from Linzi in time, and he already offended Zhao Wang. The old man Guan Gao even had a grudge with the old man. Now even Zhang Jing's His attitude has become ambiguous, which is why Bai Xuan dared to challenge the old man's authority unscrupulously."

Qing Pi's eyes showed a fierce look, and he said in a deep voice, "Then get rid of Bai Xuan!"

Zhao Wu was overjoyed when he heard the words, and said with great emotion: "If you can get rid of Bai Xuan, Guan Gao and Zhang Jing are really nothing to worry about. I can play King Zhao in the palm of your hand." However, Bai Xuan is very skilled in martial arts, and there are eighteen generals who are always around, so it may be difficult to get rid of him."

"Assassinating Bai Xuan can't be more difficult than assassinating Bai Mo, right?" Qing Pi said grimly, "General, we have no choice. No matter what, we can't let Bai Mo enter Zhao State alive! Otherwise, I won't be able to explain to the King of Chu , General, I'm afraid you won't be able to become the king of Changshan, and the revival of the Zhao family will be out of the question."

The surname Zhao belongs to the ancient Zhao royal family, and Zhao Wu is also a distant branch of the royal family. His biggest dream is to restore the old Zhao.

The reason why he chose to cooperate with Chu State this time is that Zhao Wu wanted to use the power of Chu State to realize his dream, so he said to Qing Pi immediately: "Don't worry, Qing Gong, the old man will definitely cooperate with all his strength!"

"Okay." Qing Pi said, "It's urgent, let's do it tonight."

"Do it tonight?" Zhao Wudao, "Is it too hasty?"

Qingpi said: "It's better not to delay this matter sooner, or later it will change, the general should call the manpower."

"Forget it." Zhao Wu patted the table and got up, then raised his head and shouted: "Where is Zhao Zhong?!"

A muscular figure appeared in response, and said boldly, "What orders do you have, my lord?"

Zhao Wu stepped forward and patted Zhao Zhong on the shoulder, and asked, "Zhao Zhong, how does the old man treat you?"

"My lord's kindness to villains is as great as a mountain!" Zhao Zhong said solemnly, "for my lord's business, no matter whether it's going up the mountain of swords or down the pan of oil, the villain will never frown."

"Okay!" Zhao Wu said, "As the saying goes, you can raise troops for a thousand days and use them for a short time, so tonight it's up to you!"

"Don't worry, my lord." Zhao Zhongchong bowed to Zhao Wu, then turned his head and shouted, "Where is the dead man of the Zhao family?"

There was a sound of chaotic footsteps in the backyard of the Zhao residence. In less than a moment, more than fifty Zhao family dead soldiers had gathered in the courtyard. Tie, Zhao Wu said to Qingpi proudly, "Mr. Qing, how about my Zhao family dead man?"

Qing Pi's gaze flicked over the long sword at the waist of the fifty dead men, and he frowned and said: "The equipment is too poor. With this little manpower and this kind of equipment, it's just a dream to break through the White Mansion. Let's do it. Go back and have someone send fifty hand crossbows over!"

(End of this chapter)